Over the years I have sheltered in a Heiltsuk cabin in the Bardswell Group on the British Columbia Central Coast. It was built by the Band on a chief’s land. It was built as a shelter for use by Band members, as a cultural rediscovery site for Band youth and as a place where Band members who broke laws were “incarcerated” to reconnect with Band values while in isolation. When not serving the Heiltsuk people it is open for travelers in need of shelter. I have been in need of shelter 3 times while paddling in the area.
On my first two stays I encountered a mouse in the cabin who had terrorized guests long enough that he had been given the name “Joey-Walks-with-White-Feet” by previous people who had stayed in the cabin and who made note of his presence over the years in the cabin’s log.
I caught this photo of him as he was planning one of his vicious attacks on us.
) Karluk River, Kodiak, Alaska.
